Dell Precision™ WorkStation 530 User's Guide
Your application programs, operating system, and computer can identify problems and alert you to them. When a problem occurs, a message may appear on your monitor screen, a beep code may sound, or a light code may be generated. The following subsections present information about messages, beep codes, and light codes.
If you receive a system message, see the following table for suggestions on resolving problems indicated by the message. The system messages are listed alphabetically.
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CAUTION: Before servicing any components inside your computer, see "Safety First—For You and Your Computer." |
The messages can help you determine what to do to resolve a problem. If a problem resolution requires you to open the computer cover, refer to "Removing and Installing Parts" for procedures you must complete before performing the suggested resolution. If the problem persists after you perform the suggested resolution, contact Dell for technical assistance.
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NOTE: If the system message you received is not listed in the table, check the documentation for the application program that you were running at the time the message appeared and/or the operating system documentation for an explanation of the message and a recommended action. |
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Message |
Cause |
Action |
|---|---|---|
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Address mark not found |
The BIOS found a faulty disk sector or could not find a particular disk sector. |
See "Hard Drive Problems." |
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Alert! Card-cage fan not detected. |
The expansion-card cooling fan is not installed, has failed, or is not properly connected to the system board. |
Ensure that an operational expansion-card cooling fan is installed and connected to the system board. To locate the expansion-card cooling fan, see "Inside the Computer." |
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Alert! Chipset heat sink not detected. |
The chip set heat sink is not properly installed on the system board. |
Ensure that chip set heat sink is properly installed on the system board. To locate the system-board chip set heat sink, see "System Board Components." |
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Alert! Cover was previously removed. |
The computer cover was opened. |
Enter system setup and reset the Chassis Intrusion option. |
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Alert! CPU 0 failed Build- In Self Test (BIST). |
The microprocessor 0 is faulty or improperly seated. |
See "Microprocessor Problems." |
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Alert! CPU 1 failed Build- In Self Test (BIST). |
The microprocessor 1 is faulty or improperly seated. |
See "Microprocessor Problems." |
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Alert! CPU 0 fan not detected. |
The microprocessor 0 cooling fan is not installed, has failed, or is not properly connected to the system board. |
Ensure that an operational cooling fan for microprocessor 0 is installed and connected to the system board. Also, ensure that the microprocessor airflow shroud is properly installed. |
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Alert! CPU 1 fan not detected. |
The microprocessor 1 cooling fan is not installed, has failed, or is not properly connected to the system board. |
Ensure that an operational cooling fan for microprocessor 1 is installed and connected to the system board. Also, ensure that the microprocessor airflow shroud is properly installed. |
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Alert! OS Install Mode enabled. Amount of available memory limited to 256 MB. |
The OS Install Mode option in system setup is set to On. This limits the amount of available memory to 256 MB because some OSs will not complete installation with more than 2 GB of system memory. |
After the OS is installed, enter system setup and set the OS Install Mode option to Off. |
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Alert! Power supply fan failure. |
The power supply fan has failed or is blocked. |
Ensure an operational power supply fan is installed and that the power supply airflow vents are not blocked. To locate the power supply and airflow vents, see "Inside the Computer." |
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Alert! Previous attempts at booting this system have failed at checkpoint [nnnn]. For help in resolving this problem, please note this checkpoint and contact Dell Technical Support. |
The computer failed to complete the boot routine three consecutive times for the same error. |
Contact Dell for technical assistance, and report the checkpoint code (nnnn) to the support technician. |
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Alert! Previous fan failure. |
One of the fans caused an error the last time you used the computer. |
Ensure that nothing is blocking the chassis airflow vents on the back of the computer and that all fans inside the computer are working properly. |
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Alert! Previous processor thermal failure. |
One or both of the microprocessors overheated the last time you used the computer. |
Ensure that nothing is blocking the chassis airflow vents on the back of the computer and that all fans inside the computer are working properly. Also, ensure that the microprocessor heat sinks are properly installed. |
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Alert! Previous reboot was due to voltage regulator failure. |
One or both of the VRMs failed the last time you used the computer. |
Contact Dell for technical assistance. |
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Alert! Previous shutdown due to thermal event. |
One of the microprocessors or hard drives overheated the last time you used the computer. |
Ensure that nothing is blocking the chassis airflow vents on the back of the computer and that all fans inside the computer are working properly. Also, ensure that the microprocessor heat sinks are properly installed. |
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Alert! Previous voltage failure. |
Voltage used by the computer either exceeded or fell below acceptable thresholds. |
See "Power Problems" and "System Board Problems." |
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Alert! Processor Cache Size Mismatch. Install like processor or one processor. System Halted! |
Two microprocessors with different cache sizes are installed. |
See "Microprocessor Problems." |
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Alert! Processor Speed Mismatch. Install like processors or one processor. System Halted! |
Two processors with different speeds are installed. |
See "Microprocessor Problems." |
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Alert! Processor Stepping Mismatch. Install like processors or one processor. |
Two processors with different steppings are installed. |
See "Microprocessor Problems." |
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Alert! Processor Type Mismatch. Install like processors or one processor. System Halted! |
Two processors with different types are installed. |
See "Microprocessor Problems." |
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Alert! System battery voltage is low. |
System battery is providing inadequate voltage. |
See "Battery Problems." |
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Alert! Unable to initialize all installed memory. |
One or more memory modules may be faulty or improperly seated. |
See "System Memory Problems." |
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Alert! Uncorrectable memory error previously detected ... Address XXXXXXXXh, |
One or more memory modules may be faulty or improperly seated, or the system board may be faulty. |
See "System Memory Problems" and "System Board Problems." |
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Attachment failed to respond |
The diskette drive or hard drive controller cannot send data to the associated drive. |
See "Diskette Drive Problems" and "Hard Drive Problems." |
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Bad command or file name |
The command you entered does not exist or the file name you specified is faulty. |
Ensure that you have spelled the command correctly, put spaces in the proper place, and used the correct pathname. |
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Bad error-correction code (ECC) on disk read |
The diskette drive or hard drive controller detected an uncorrectable read error. |
See "Diskette Drive Problems" and "Hard Drive Problems." |
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Controller has failed |
The hard drive or the associated controller is defective. |
See "Hard Drive Problems." |
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Data error |
The diskette or hard drive cannot read the data. |
Run the chkdsk utility to check the file structure of the diskette or hard drive. See your operating system documentation for more information. If you are using a different operating system, run the appropriate utility to check the file structure of the diskette or hard drive. See your operating system documentation. |
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Decreasing available memory |
One or more memory modules may be faulty or improperly seated. |
See "System Memory Problems." |
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Diskette drive 0 seek failure |
A cable may be loose, or the system configuration information may not match the hardware configuration. |
See "Diskette Drive Problems." |
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Diskette read failure |
A cable may be loose, or the diskette may be faulty. |
See "Diskette Drive Problems." |
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Diskette subsystem reset failed |
The diskette drive controller may be faulty. |
Run the Dell Diagnostics. |
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Diskette write protected |
The diskette write-protect feature is activated. |
Remove the diskette from drive A and move the write-protect tab to the unlocked position. |
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Drive not ready |
No diskette is in the drive. The operation requires a diskette in the drive before it can continue. |
Put a diskette in the drive or close the drive latch. |
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Gate A20 failure |
One or more memory modules may be loose. |
See "System Memory Problems." |
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General failure |
The operating system is unable to carry out the command. |
This message is usually followed by specific information—for example, PRINTER OUT OF PAPER. Respond by taking the appropriate action. |
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Hard disk configuration error |
The hard drive failed initialization. |
See "Hard Drive Problems." |
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Hard disk controller failure Hard disk failure Hard drive read failure |
The hard drive failed initialization. |
See "Hard Drive Problems." |
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Invalid configuration information - please run SETUP program |
The system configuration information does not match the hardware configuration. |
Enter system setup and correct the system configuration information. |
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Keyboard controller failure Keyboard failure Keyboard stuck key failure |
A cable or connector may be loose, or the keyboard or keyboard/mouse controller may be faulty. |
See "Keyboard Problems." |
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Memory address line failure at address, read value expecting value |
One or more memory modules may be faulty or improperly seated. |
See "System Memory Problems." |
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Memory allocation error |
The software you are attempting to run is conflicting with the operating system or another application program or utility. |
Turn off the computer, wait 30 seconds, and turn it on. Try to run the program again. If the problem persists, contact the software company. |
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Memory data line failure at address, read value expecting value Memory double word logic failure at address, read value expecting value Memory odd/even logic failure at address, read value expecting value Memory write/read failure at address, read value expecting value |
One or more memory modules may be faulty or improperly seated. |
See "System Memory Problems." |
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Memory size in CMOS invalid |
The amount of memory recorded in the system configuration information does not match the memory installed in the computer. |
Reboot the computer. If the error appears again, see "System Memory Problems." |
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No boot device available |
The computer cannot find the diskette or hard drive. |
Enter system setup, check the system configuration information for the diskette and hard drive, and if necessary, correct the information. |
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No boot sector on hard drive |
The system configuration information in system setup may be incorrect, or the operating system may be corrupted. |
Enter system setup, check the system configuration information for the hard drive, and if necessary, correct the information. If the message persists, reinstall your operating system. See the documentation that came with your operating system. |
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No timer tick interrupt |
A chip on the system board might be malfunctioning. |
Run the Dell Diagnostics. |
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Non-system disk or disk error |
The diskette in drive A or your hard drive does not have a bootable operating system installed. |
A nonbootable diskette is in drive A. Either replace the diskette with one that has a bootable operating system, or remove the diskette from drive A and restart the computer. |
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Not a boot diskette |
There is no operating system on the diskette. |
Boot the computer with a diskette that contains an operating system. |
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Please connect USB Keyboard/Mouse to USB port(s) on the back of the computer. |
The USB keyboard and/or mouse must be connected to the USB connectors on the back of the computer. |
Turn your computer off, connect the USB keyboard and/or mouse to one of the USB connectors on the back of the computer, and restart your computer. See "Back-Panel Features." |
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Plug and Play Configuration Error |
The computer has encountered a problem in trying to configure one or more expansion cards. |
See "Expansion-Card Problems." |
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Read fault Requested sector not found |
The operating system cannot read from the diskette or hard drive. The computer could not find a particular sector on the disk, or the requested sector is defective. |
See "Diskette Drive Problems" and "Hard Drive Problems." |
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Reset failed |
The disk reset operation failed. |
See "Diskette Drive Problems" and "Hard Drive Problems." |
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Sector not found |
The operating system is unable to locate a sector on the diskette or hard drive. |
See "Diskette Drive Problems" and "Hard Drive Problems." |
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Seek error |
The operating system is unable to find a specific track on the diskette or hard drive. |
If the error is on the diskette drive, try a different diskette in the drive. |
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Shutdown failure |
A chip on the system board might be malfunctioning. |
Run the Dell Diagnostics. |
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Time-of-day clock stopped |
The battery may be dead. |
Enter system setup and correct the date or time. If the problem persists, see "Battery Problems." |
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Time-of-day not set |
The time or date displayed in the system configuration information does not match the system clock. |
Enter system setup and correct the date or time. |
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Timer chip counter 2 failed |
A chip on the system board might be malfunctioning. |
Run the Dell Diagnostics. |
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Unexpected interrupt in protected mode |
The keyboard controller might be malfunctioning, or one or more memory modules may be loose. |
Run the Dell Diagnostics. |
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WARNING: Dell's Disk Monitoring System has detected that drive [0/1] on the [primary/secondary] EIDE controller is operating outside of normal specifications. It is advisable to immediately back up your data and replace your hard drive by calling your support desk or Dell Computer Corporation. |
POST has queried the EIDE drive for status information. The drive has indicated it has detected possible error conditions for its operating specifications. |
When your computer finishes booting, immediately back up your data and replace your hard drive. Restore the data to the replacement drive. Back up the data on your hard drive. If a replacement drive is not immediately available and the drive is not the only bootable drive, enter system setup and change the appropriate drive setting to None. Remove the drive from the computer. |
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Write fault Write fault on selected drive |
The operating system cannot write to the diskette or hard drive. |
See "Diskette Drive Problems" and "Hard Drive Problems." |
If an error occurs during startup that cannot be reported on the monitor, your computer may emit a beep code that identifies the problem. The beep code is a pattern of sounds: for example, one beep, followed by a second beep, and then a burst of three beeps (code 1-1-3) means that the computer was unable to read the data in NVRAM.
If a beep code is emitted, write it down on a copy of the Diagnostics Checklist and look it up in the following table. If you are unable to resolve the problem by looking up the meaning of the beep code, use the Dell Diagnostics to identify a more serious cause. If you are still unable to resolve the problem, contact Dell for technical assistance.
If the computer loses power and beeps constantly when you turn it back on, the BIOS is probably corrupted. See "BIOS Recovery Utility" for information on restoring the BIOS.
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Code |
Cause |
|---|---|
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1-1-2 |
Microprocessor register failure |
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1-1-3 |
NVRAM read/write failure |
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1-1-4 |
ROM BIOS checksum failure |
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1-2-1 |
Programmable interval timer |
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1-2-2 |
DMA initialization failure |
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1-2-3 |
DMA page register read/write failure |
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1-3 |
Video memory failure |
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1-3-1 |
Memory modules not being properly identified or used |
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3-1-1 |
Slave DMA register failure |
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3-1-2 |
Master DMA register failure |
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3-1-3 |
Master interrupt mask register failure |
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3-1-4 |
Slave interrupt mask register failure |
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3-2-2 |
Interrupt vector loading failure |
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3-2-4 |
Keyboard controller failure |
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3-3-1 |
NVRAM power loss |
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3-3-2 |
NVRAM configuration |
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3-3-3 |
Real-time clock (RTC) or keyboard controller not found |
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3-3-4 |
Video memory failure |
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3-4-1 |
Video initialization failure |
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3-4-2 |
Video retrace failure |
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3-4-3 |
Search for video ROM failure |
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4-2-1 |
Timer tick failure |
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4-2-2 |
Shutdown failure |
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4-2-3 |
Gate A20 failure |
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4-2-4 |
Unexpected interrupt in protected mode |
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4-3-1 |
Memory failure above address 0FFFFh |
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4-3-3 |
Timer-chip channel 2 failure |
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4-3-4 |
Time-of-day clock stopped |
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4-4-1 |
Serial or parallel port failure |
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5-1-2-3 |
Memory read/write failure |
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5-2-2-1 |
Mismatch or unsupported memory modules |
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5-2-2-2 |
Mismatch memory module pair |
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5-2-2-3 |
Unable to initialize memory modules |
Your application programs or operating system generate warning messages to alert you to a possible problem and ask you to take an action before you continue. For example, before you format a diskette, a message may warn you that you can lose all data on the diskette as a way to protect against inadvertently erasing or writing over the data. These warning messages usually interrupt the procedure and require you to respond by typing a y (yes) or n (no).
When you run a test group or subtest in the Dell Diagnostics, an error message may result. These error messages are not covered in this section. Record the message on a copy of your Diagnostics Checklist and contact Dell for technical assistance.
Your computer has a series of lights that can help you analyze and solve problems with your computer. To locate these lights, see "Front View of the Computer (Doors Open)."
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CAUTION: Before servicing any components inside your computer, see "Safety First—For You and Your Computer." |
The lights can help you determine what to do to resolve a problem. If a problem resolution requires you to open the computer cover, refer to "Removing and Installing Parts" for procedures you must complete before performing the suggested resolution. If the problem persists after you perform the suggested resolution, contact Dell for technical assistance.
The following table lists the codes for the system lights, gives probable causes, and suggests corrective actions.
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Power Light |
Hard Drive Light |
Cause |
Corrective Action |
|---|---|---|---|
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Solid green |
N/A |
Power is on, and the computer is operating normally. |
No corrective action is required. |
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Blinking green |
Blank |
The computer is in the suspended state (Windows 2000 and Windows XP). |
Use one of the appropriate methods to "wake up" the computer. See "Power Management." |
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Blinks green several times and then turns off |
N/A |
There is a configuration error. |
Check the diagnostic lights to see if the specific problem is identified. |
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Solid yellow |
N/A |
The Dell Diagnostics is running a test, or a device on the system board may be faulty or incorrectly installed. |
If the Dell Diagnostics is running, allow the testing to complete. Check the diagnostic lights to see if the specific problem is identified. Also, see "System Board Problems." If the computer does not boot, contact Dell for technical assistance. |
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Blinking yellow |
Blank |
There is a power supply or system board failure. |
Check the diagnostic lights to see if the specific problem is identified. Also, see "Power Problems" and "System Board Problems." |
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Blinking yellow |
Solid green |
There is a system board failure. |
Check the diagnostic lights to see if the specific problem is identified. Also, see "System Board Problems." |
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Solid green and a beep code during POST |
N/A |
A problem was detected while the BIOS was executing. |
See "System Beep Codes" for instructions on diagnosing the beep code. Also, check the diagnostic lights to see if the specific problem is identified. |
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Solid green power light and no beep code and no video during POST |
N/A |
The monitor or the graphics card may be faulty or incorrectly installed. |
Check the diagnostic lights to see if the specific problem is identified. Also, see "Video Problems." |
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Solid green power light and no beep code but the computer locks up during POST |
N/A |
An integrated system board device may be faulty. |
Check the diagnostic lights to see if the specific problem is identified. If the problem is not identified, contact Dell for technical assistance. |
When you turn on your computer, it performs a series of self-diagnostic checks. A successful POST ends with a single beep that signifies the start of normal operation. If the computer fails to complete the POST, a series of lights located on the computer can help you understand which test failed or why the computer stopped responding. These lights communicate problems encountered before and during POST only, not during normal operation. To locate the diagnostic lights, see "Front View of the Computer (Doors Open)."
The following tables lists the codes for the diagnostic lights, gives probable causes, and suggests corrective actions. The lights are labeled to help you match the pattern on your computer with one shown in the tables:
The following table lists the codes for the diagnostic lights that occur before the computer begins the POST.
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Light Pattern |
Cause |
Action |
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No electrical power is supplied to the computer. |
Connect the computer to its electrical outlet. Ensure that the front-panel power light is on. If the power light is off, ensure that the computer is connected to a working electrical outlet and then press the power button. If the problem is still not resolved, contact Dell for technical assistance. |
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Normal off condition. Computer is connected to its electrical outlet. |
Ensure that the front-panel power light is on. If the power light is off, ensure that the computer is connected to a working electrical outlet and then press the power button. When the computer is operating normally, it can be automatically or remotely started as long as it remains connected to an electrical outlet. For more information, see "Power Management." If the problem is still not resolved, contact Dell for technical assistance. |
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Computer is in a reduced power or "sleep" state. |
Use one of the appropriate methods to "wake up" the computer. See "Power Management." If the problem is still not resolved, contact Dell for technical assistance. |
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BIOS is not executing. |
Perform the procedure in "Reset Corrupted BIOS Settings." |
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Possible power supply or power cord failure. |
Perform the procedure in "Power Problems." |
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Possible system board failure. |
Contact Dell for technical assistance. |
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Microprocessor and/or VRM mismatch. |
Perform the procedure in "Microprocessor Problems." |
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Possible VRM 0 failure. |
Perform the procedure in "Microprocessor Problems." |
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Possible VRM 1 failure. |
Perform the procedure in "Microprocessor Problems." |
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Possible VRM 0 and VRM 1 failure. |
Perform the procedure in "Microprocessor Problems." |
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Possible memory riser board A failure. |
Perform the procedure in "System Memory Problems." |
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Possible memory riser board B failure. |
Perform the procedure in "System Memory Problems." |
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Possible memory riser board A and riser board B failure. |
Perform the procedure in "System Memory Problems." |
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The following table lists the codes for the diagnostic lights that occur while the computer is performing the POST.
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NOTE: If the computer is turned on and all four diagnostic lights are not on, see "Preboot Diagnostic Codes." |
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Light Pattern |
Cause |
Action |
|---|---|---|
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Possible BIOS failure, and the computer is in the recovery mode. |
Run the BIOS Recovery Utility, and restart the computer to retest. If the problem is still not resolved, perform the procedure in "Reset Corrupted BIOS Settings." |
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Possible microprocessor failure. |
Perform the procedure in "Microprocessor Problems." |
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Possible memory failure. |
Perform the procedure in "System Memory Problems." |
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Possible expansion card failure or conflict. |
Perform the procedure in "Expansion-Card Problems" and see "Hardware Conflicts." |
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Possible video card failure. |
Reseat the video card, and restart the computer to retest. For instructions on removing and installing an expansion card, see "Removing an Expansion Card." If the problem is not resolved, perform the procedure in "Expansion-Card Problems." If the problem is still not resolved, contact Dell for technical assistance. |
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Possible diskette drive or hard drive failure. |
Perform the procedures in "Diskette Drive Problems" and "Hard Drive Problems." |
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Possible USB failure. |
Disconnect all USB devices and cables, and restart the computer to retest. Then reconnect all USB devices and cables, and restart the computer to retest. If the problem is still not resolved, contact Dell for technical assistance. |
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Possible system board resource and/or hardware failure. |
Perform the procedure in "System Board Problems" and see "Hardware Conflicts." |
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Possible system board resource and/or hardware failure. |
Perform the procedure in "System Board Problems" and see "Hardware Conflicts." |
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Possible expansion card failure or conflict. |
Perform the procedure in "System Board Problems" and see "Hardware Conflicts." |
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Possible system board resource and/or hardware failure. |
Perform the procedure in "System Board Problems" and see "Hardware Conflicts." |
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Normal operating condition after POST. |
No action is necessary. |
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Your computer generates SNMP PET messages that are sent to network management software to inform the network manager that specific events have occurred on your computer.
The following table lists the SNMP platform event traps your computer generates.
